Transforming High Blood Pressure with Functional Medicine

Treating The Underlying Causes Of High Blood Pressure with Dr. George Papanicolaou | This episode is brought to you by AirDoctor

Almost a quarter of the worldwide adult population has high blood pressure or hypertension. An additional third of American adults have what is called a pre-hypertensive condition. Hypertension is a leading cause of heart disease and can lead to kidney failure, stroke, dementia, and more. Conventional medicine typically treats hypertension with medications which is generally effective in reducing risk of these complications. However, these medications frequently come with unintended side effects. Functional Medicine, on the other hand, seeks to get to and treat the root cause of whatever is causing hypertension.

In this episode, Dr. Hyman sits down with Dr. George Papanicolaou to discuss the Functional Medicine approach to treating high blood pressure. They discuss how things like diet, sleep apnea, insulin resistance, and more are often the driving forces of hypertension.

George Papanicolaou is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and is Board Certified in Family Medicine from Abington Memorial Hospital. He is also an Institute for Functional Medicine Practitioner. Upon graduation from his residency he joined the Indian Health Service. He worked on the Navajo reservation for 4 years at the Chinle Comprehensive Medical Facility where he served as the Outpatient Department Coordinator. In 2000, he founded Cornerstone Family Practice in Rowley, MA. He practiced with a philosophy centered on personal relationships and treating the whole person, not just not the disease. He called that philosophy “Whole Life Wellness”. Over time as the healthcare system made it harder for patients to receive this kind of personal care Dr. Papanicolaou decided a change was needed. He began training in Functional Medicine through the Institute of Functional Medicine. In 2015, he established Cornerstone Personal Health – a practice dedicated entirely to Functional Medicine. Dr. Papanicolaou to join The UltraWellness Center in 2017.

In this conversation, Dr. Hyman and Dr. Papanicolaou discuss:

• What’s is considered normal blood pressure and why this metric is constantly changing

• Why high blood pressure is so dangerous

• The traditional medicine vs Functional Medicine approach to treating high blood pressure

• Why blood pressure needs to be treated

• How to get an effective blood pressure measurement

• Major causes of hypertension including insulin resistance, sleep apnea, low magnesium, low Omega-3 fats, and environmental causes

• Is salt an issue for high blood pressure?

• The connection between gut issues and high blood pressure

For more information visit drhyman.com/uwc 

This episode is sponsored by AirDoctor. We need clean air not only to live but to create vibrant health and protect ourselves and loved ones from toxin exposure and disease. Learn more about the AirDoctor Professional Air Purifier system at a special price at www.drhyman.com/filter

Additional resources:

Natural Remedies for Healthy Blood Pressure

https://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com/2018/04/12/natural-remedies-for-healthy-blood-pressure/

5 Strategies for Better Sleep

https://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com/2020/03/19/5-strategies-for-better-sleep-2/

Magical Magnesium

https://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com/2020/03/11/magic-magnesium/

A Functional Medicine Approach to Obesity: 10 Ways to Lose Weight & Keep It Off

https://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com/2018/04/03/a-functional-medicine-approach-to-obesity-10-ways-to-lose-weight-keep-it-off/

10-Day Rest

GetFarmacy.com

Should We All Avoid Gluten

https://drhyman.com/blog/2018/09/26/podcast-ep20/

8 Simple Hacks for a Better Night’s Sleep

https://drhyman.com/blog/2016/04/13/8-simple-hacks-for-a-better-nights-sleep/

Magnesium: Meet the Most Powerful Relaxation Mineral Available

https://drhyman.com/blog/2010/05/20/magnesium-the-most-powerful-relaxation-mineral-available/